Becky's time at Bath gave her a new perspective on life. She got involved in student politics, learned to question everything and met her partner of 47 years. She now spends her time writing novels, the fourth of which comes out next month.
Read to learn how Bath shaped Becky's journey.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I grew up in Birmingham and wanted a change of scene. When I visited Bath for an open day in 1974, the lovely city and the village feel of the campus combined with my chosen course, sociology, shot Bath up to my number one choice.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
The desire to be independent, study a new subject and throw myself into student life were my main priorities. It was a different era with no student fees and no repayments needed on student grants, so I wasn't thinking much about jobs at that stage.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?
Sociology opened my eyes to the subconscious processes that affect our everyday lives. I dropped any tacit acceptance of how things appeared to be and began to question it all. It truly was my ‘coming of age’ moment and allowed me to find my own voice.
I wasn’t particularly studious and was frequently told ‘Rebecca, you write a good story, but this is not sociology.’ Perhaps this was the start of my inner desire to write without the shackles of academia?
I loved living both on campus and in digs (I remember hitching lifts from a flat share on Bathwick Hill to get up to lectures). I spent a great deal of my time in the Students’ Union, at the ENTS gigs, the Sports Hall discos, the radio station and Norwood Bar.
Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath?
I joined the drama club and the ENTs team and gradually got involved in student politics. I was elected as the Welfare Officer in my second year and attended the NUS conferences in the day when Trevor Philips (now Sir Trevor) and Dave Aaronovitch (both journalists and broadcasters) were the national leaders.
Known as Becky Fleetwood-Walker back then, I was elected the first female Vice-President of the Students’ Union in my final year – a sabbatical post which I loved.
It was during my sabbatical I met my partner, Julian, who was studying for his PhD in thermodynamics. In those days an engineer teaming up with a sociologist was considered quite an extraordinary mix, but 47 years on I can only say, it works!
Describe your career journey since graduating.
I took a post in the civil service in 1980 doing an eye-opening job in social security and benefits. Julian and I married in 1981, moved up north and had our four children. I took the unpaid home-care job while Julian moved from University lecturing to private industry.
When the kids were old enough, I worked part-time in social services and secondary education until I gave up to see if I could write a novel – a life-long ambition. The young adult, Sci-Fi novel morphed into a trilogy which I independently published. Imogen’s Secret, Journey and Destiny are the three books of the Chroma Series.
Lockdown gave me the opportunity to change genre and I have now completed my first commercial fiction, a novel called 'Dancing Fools and All That Jazz'. It will be published on 28 July 2025 by The Book Guild under my author name, B Fleetwood.
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
Writing has really surprised me. It has been far more intuitive than I expected – almost a sub-conscious process where I would go to sleep thinking about my characters and plot and wake up knowing what needed to happen next. This was on the good days, there were plenty of bad days where I couldn’t write a word or scrubbed out everything I had written.
What inspires you as an author? Can you tell us a little about your process?
I write the kind of books I want to read with observational humour and realistic characters. David Lodge was one of my favourite authors – he was an amazing storyteller.
My books are character driven – they tell me what needs to happen so I don’t plot out the story in advance but explore each personality and see where they take me. I’m sure other authors would call this a hit-and-miss approach but it has worked for me so far.
How did your studies help to develop you?
My studies and experience of University, especially meeting people I would not have met in my hometown, formed my adult approach to life. It made me question, analyse and use logic to fathom what makes people tick. Meeting Julian was a life-changer and his humour and our utter inter-dependence have been a cornerstone for everything I’ve done since.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Bath is a brilliant University and such a great city. Yes, Sociology was a good course, but whatever you are studying, be confident in your own skills and abilities. This will give you a great foundation for life after graduation.
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